Tigers get chance to reverse late-season woes

STOCKTON - The Pacific men's basketball team has an opportunity to rewrite the end of its season.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - The Pacific men's basketball team has an opportunity to rewrite the end of its season.

The Tigers lost five of their final six games, including an 81-64 loss to Santa Clara in the opening round of the West Coast Conference Tournament. Despite its struggles, a 9-2 start helped Pacific salvage a 15-15 record, thus qualifying for the postseason and receiving an invitation to the 32-team CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

The Tigers will play Grand Canyon (15-14) of the Western Athletic Conference at 7 p.m. today in Phoenix.

Coach Ron Verlin, who was the associate head coach when the Tigers won five games in CIT appearances in 2009 and 2010, is impressed with the Antelopes, who play in the same conference as Idaho, coached by Verlin's twin brother, Don. Verlin said his brother's scouting report made sense after watching tape on coach Dan Majerle's team.

"It's a tough place to play (1,700 Antelope Gym) and they really get after you by playing fast and with their man-to-man (defense)," Verlin said. "They have two really good inside guys (Killian Larson, 17.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game; and Daniel Alexander 12.3, 5.9) and their 2-guard (Jerome Garrison, 16.6) can really fill it up."

Verlin gave his team last week off for Spring Break, and the Tigers resumed practice Sunday. Senior forward Tony Gill said the time off was needed and they have come back refreshed.

"We want to end things the right way," Gill said. "We're excited about the opportunity to get on the court together again and show what we're all about."

Verlin said while continuing the season is a nice reward for the seniors, it also is a chance to get extra reps for freshmen T.J. Wallace and David Taylor, and junior forwards Gabriel Aguirre and Aaron Short, all of whom could start next season.

"Getting into any postseason tournament is an honor," Wallace said. "It's good experience for all of us younger guys, so we know what to expect in the future. We want to make as big a run as we can."

Verlin plans to start seniors Gill, Khalil Kelley, Ross Rivera, Sama Taku and Andrew Bock. Gill said he hopes the team will approach this postseason chance with the mind-set of sharing the ball and playing for each other, the things that worked in last season's march to the NCAA Tournament.

"The season didn't go the direction we wanted, but there's no excuses and we have to let the past go," Gill said. "We have the ability and talent to get it done in this tournament."